Footballer Makes Winning Return With Heart Monitor
Perhaps not strictly Cutting Edge Sport, but it’s good to know that you can find technology almost anywhere, just in case you need it.
Specifically, we’re talking about the story of Daniel Engelbrecht and his precautionary mobile defibrillator.
On the first day of last season, Engelbrecht collapsed in a manner described as ‘eerily reminiscent’ of Fabrice Muamba at White Hart Lane.
He was revived at the scene by medics, who later found that he has suffered inflammation of the heart muscle and an abnormal heart rhythm. But he was determined to play again.
Daniel had been out for a year after suffering a heart attack and required four separate operations throughout his recovery. However, against the odds, the 24-year-old made his unlikely return to action in the German fourth division for Stuttgart Kickers wearing a defibrillator, the first German professional footballer ever to wear one during a game, which monitors his heart beat and detects any abnormality.
Not only that, last weekend he scored his first goal since his lengthy layoff – a dramatic late winner against Wehen after coming on as an 83rd minute substitute.
After running away to celebrate with his team he revealed a shirt with just three words on it: “Nothing is impossible”.
Naturally, he was promptly booked…
